TRENCH TRENCH WARFAREWARFARE

How They Looked

How They LookedHow They Looked

What the Trenches were like… Filled with water and

mud Duckboards along the

bottom of the trench No privacy Dead bodies often left

for days at a time Filled with rats and other

rodents

A Duckboard is a platform made of wooden slats built over muddy ground to form a dry passageway.

Trench foot is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary and cold conditions

Symptoms of Trench foot•Infected feet •Numb•turning red or blue as a result of poor vascular supply•decaying odor •swellingAdvanced stages involves:•Blisters and open sores•Fungal infections (jungle rot).•Untreated, trench foot usually results in gangrene which usually means amputation. •If treated properly, complete recovery is normal. There is some pain and trench foot leaves sufferers more susceptible to it in the future.

…no coming back from this one…

Soldiers died…Soldiers died…

Falling off duckboards Falling off duckboards into the mudinto the mud

Buried aliveBuried alive SuicideSuicide Killed by enemy Killed by enemy

sniperssnipers From diseasesFrom diseases From lack of foodFrom lack of food

Duties in the Trenches…Duties in the Trenches…

Replace barbed wire Replace barbed wire –in “No man’s Land” –in “No man’s Land” so done at night to so done at night to avoid detectionavoid detection

Repair flooded Repair flooded trenchestrenches

Move suppliesMove supplies Often men were Often men were

bored and simply bored and simply waiting for a battlewaiting for a battle

No man's landNo man's land is a term for land that is is a term for land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between unoccupied or is under dispute between parties that leave it unoccupied due to fear parties that leave it unoccupied due to fear or uncertainty. or uncertainty.

First World War – the area of land between First World War – the area of land between two enemy trenches two enemy trenches

No one wanted to take control of due to No one wanted to take control of due to fear of being attacked by the enemy in the fear of being attacked by the enemy in the process.process.

All’s Quiet on the Western frontAll’s Quiet on the Western front

http://http://video.google.com/videoplay?docidvideo.google.com/videoplay?docid=7300946306109319965#=7300946306109319965#

The Battle of The Battle of YpresYpresApril 1915 in Belgium (near city of Ypres, in April 1915 in Belgium (near city of Ypres, in region of Flanders)region of Flanders)Task: to hold 3.5 km of the line in the face of Task: to hold 3.5 km of the line in the face of heavy German attackheavy German attackThis battle saw the first use of chlorine gas by the This battle saw the first use of chlorine gas by the GermansGermansCanadians used makeshift gas masks to hold the Canadians used makeshift gas masks to hold the line with British reinforcementsline with British reinforcements6000 Canadian casualties (dead, missing, or 6000 Canadian casualties (dead, missing, or wounded)wounded)The poem “In Flanders Fields” was written at this The poem “In Flanders Fields” was written at this battle by Doctor John McCraebattle by Doctor John McCrae

The Battle of the The Battle of the SommeSommeJuly to November 1916 in FranceJuly to November 1916 in France

Canadians fought as part of British forces, Canadians fought as part of British forces, led by Sir Douglas Haigled by Sir Douglas Haig

Allies used old tactics and were mowed Allies used old tactics and were mowed down by German machine gun fire –down by German machine gun fire –disaster!disaster!

58,000 Allied casualties in one day 58,000 Allied casualties in one day

**First use of tanks –broke through barbed **First use of tanks –broke through barbed wire and gave Allies the advantagewire and gave Allies the advantage

After 5 months –gained only 8 kmAfter 5 months –gained only 8 km

Battle of Battle of Vimy RidgeVimy Ridge

April 1917April 1917Canada’s greatest victory –succeeded where Canada’s greatest victory –succeeded where French and British had failedFrench and British had failedWell-prepared -used planes to gather information Well-prepared -used planes to gather information and constructed model ridge to practiceand constructed model ridge to practice100,000 Canadians led attack 100,000 Canadians led attack New strategy called “leap-frogging” meant troops New strategy called “leap-frogging” meant troops weren’t as tiredweren’t as tired11,000 Canadian casualties11,000 Canadian casualtiesMorale boost for Canada, beginning of national Morale boost for Canada, beginning of national pride pride

Battle of Battle of PasschendaelePasschendaele

November 1917, near Ypres in BelgiumNovember 1917, near Ypres in BelgiumBitter disaster for CanadiansBitter disaster for CanadiansIncredible mud –horses and men sucked in Incredible mud –horses and men sucked in and drownedand drownedCanadians led by Sir Arthur Currie, a Canadians led by Sir Arthur Currie, a CanadianCanadian16000 Allied troops dead, 8000 Canadian 16000 Allied troops dead, 8000 Canadian casualtiescasualtiesGained only 7 km of mud that was soon Gained only 7 km of mud that was soon lost againlost again

The last 100 DaysThe last 100 Days

August to November 1918August to November 1918USA entered the war, Germany desperateUSA entered the war, Germany desperateGermany launched huge attack along the Germany launched huge attack along the Western FrontWestern FrontAdvanced within 80km of Paris but stopped by Advanced within 80km of Paris but stopped by Allied counter attack (including Canadians)Allied counter attack (including Canadians)France and Belgium liberated France and Belgium liberated Canadians defeated a quarter of the German Canadians defeated a quarter of the German army –more than American force that was 6 army –more than American force that was 6 times as bigtimes as bigGermans surrendered on November 11, 1918Germans surrendered on November 11, 1918Canadians treated as heroes by Belgians Canadians treated as heroes by Belgians